Respite for Families Caring for a Child with Intellectual Disabilities
Respite gives parents and guardians a temporary or short-term break from the daily responsibilities of caring for a child who has an intellectual disability. This can help improve the caregiver’s physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being.
Community Living Service Delivery (CLSD) provides a respite benefit for eligible families caring for a child with an intellectual disability.
1. Benefits
The Family Respite Benefit is an income-tested, monthly financial benefit for parents or guardians of a child who has an intellectual disability. Benefit levels are based on financial need and assessed level of disability impact.
The purpose of the benefit is to enable parent or guardians to pay for short-term alternative or additional supervision and care of the child.
2. Eligibility
To be eligible for the respite benefit, parents or guardians must:
- be residents of Saskatchewan;
- have a child living in their family home who is under age 18, meets the eligibility requirements of Community Living Service Delivery, and has been accepted for services provided by the branch; and
- meet financial eligibility criteria.
Families must agree to:
- an annual income test;
- report any change in circumstances;
- use the benefit for respite care;
- not pay themselves as parents or guardians, or use the benefit for employment-related child care expenses; and
- take part in an annual review with the assigned Community Living Service Delivery worker.
3. How to apply
Parents or guardians who think they may be eligible for a respite benefit must:
- complete an application that includes signing a declaration indicating they will follow the stated guidelines of the respite program;
- take part in an assessment of the support needs of the child using the Daily Living Support Assessment (DLSA), and an assessment of the impact of the disability on the family unit using the Family Impact of Disability Assessment (FIDA); and
- consent to initial and annual income verification regarding their Notice of Assessment (NOA) information from the most recent taxation year, obtained through an information sharing agreement with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Note: Families will need to work with the CLSD to develop a respite plan and discuss how they plan to use the benefit to best meet their respite needs. The family may also be asked to provide records.
4. Apply
To apply for the Family Respite Program, contact the Community Living Service Delivery office nearest you or call 306-787-3848.